Electric Shock Injuries Health Article

Definition

Electric shock injuries are caused by lightning or electric current passing through the body. In infants, electric shock injuries occur most often when they put metal objects in their mouths.

Description

Electric current can be described as the flow of microscopic particles called electrons through wires and electrical appliances. Materials like metal and water through which electric current (electricity) travels easily are called conducting materials or conductors. The body is an excellent conductor, and electric current from any source passing through the body produces electric shock injuries.

The severity of electric shock injuries depends on the current's voltage, the amount of current (amperage), the type of current (direct or alternating), the body's resistance to the current, the current's path through the body, and the length of time the body remains in contact with the current. The interplay of these factors can produce effects ranging from a mild tingling to instant death. How electric shocks affect the skin depends on the skin's resistance to current, which in turn depends on the wetness, thickness, and cleanliness of the skin. Thin or wet skin is much less resistant than thick or dry skin. When the skin's resistance to current is low, the current may cause little or no skin damage but severely burn internal organs and tissues. By contrast, high skin resistance can produce severe skin burns but prevent the current from entering the body.

The nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves) is very sensitive to electric shock injury, and neurological problems are the most common consequences suffered by electric shock victims. Neurological damage can be minor and clear up on its own or with medical treatment or can be severe and permanent. Damage to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems is highest at time of injury. Electric shocks can paralyze the respiratory system or disrupt heart action, causing instant death. Also at risk are the smaller veins and arteries, which can develop blood clots. Damage to the smaller vessels is often followed by amputation after high-voltage injuries. Many other injuries are possible after an electric shock, including cataracts, kidney failure, and destruction of muscle tissue. The victim may also suffer a fall or an electric arc may set clothing or nearby flammable substances on fire. Strong shocks are often accompanied by violent muscle spasms that can break and dislocate bones.

Demographics

Electric shocks are responsible for about 1,000 deaths in the United States each year, or about 1 percent of all accidental deaths. Children are not often seriously injured by electricity, but they are prone to electric shock by the low voltage (110–220 volts) of typical household current. In children aged 12 years and younger, household appliance electrical cords and extension cords are reported to cause more than 63 percent of injuries. Wall outlets are responsible for 15 percent of electric injuries.

Causes and symptoms

Electric shocks are caused by the passage of electric current through the body. They are caused in infants and young children by their playing with electrical appliances or cords and in older children by mischievous exploration of electrical systems or use of faulty electrical appliances or tools.

A child who has suffered an electric shock may have very little external injury or may have obvious severe burns. Burns are usually most severe at the points of contact with the electrical source. The hands, heels, and head are common points of contact. Other injuries are also possible if the child has been thrown clear of the electrical source by forceful muscular contractions. The child may have internal injuries especially if he or she is experiencing any shortness of breath, chest pain, or abdominal pain. In children, the typical electrical mouth burn from biting an electric cord appears as a burn on the lip. The area has a red or dark, charred appearance.

When to call the doctor

A person shocked by high voltage (500 volts or more) should be evaluated in the emergency department of a hospital or clinic. Any person present at the scene of the accident should immediately call 911.

Brief low-voltage shocks (110–220 volts or less) that do not result in any symptoms or burns of the skin do not require care. However, following a low-voltage shock, parents should consult their healthcare provider if the child has any noticeable burn to the skin, any numbness, tingling, or vision, hearing, or speech problems, no matter how mild. A doctor should also always evaluate electric cord burns to the mouth of a child.